What I Learned from an Afternoon at Best Buy

As a business student, networking events should be part of each week. Getting to know people who are in the jobs we wish to hold one day and their experiences can be transformational to our career exploration.

I tell people I will always be a life long learner and I am, which is why I love going to events with professionals that are in the industry I hope to one day work in.

Mid-October I found myself at Best Buy’s headquarters outside of Minneapolis. As the panelists spoke I filled the back of the afternoon's agenda with quotes and notes from the opening session.

Here are some of my takeaways:

1. Top Three Characteristics for today’s Communicators:

• Business acumen

• Organization savy: talk to people in your company outside of your department

• Be a utility player: get exposure and work with a variety of teams

So how does one develop "business acumen"? Does that happen in the classroom or at an internship?

I say both.

As as student I have learned the theories and terminology of methods that are used by companies day in and out. I think that practical experience is very important and for me it is how I learn best. If you are personable or an extrovert or both: you probably are organizationally savy. By that I mean you probably know all your coworkers birthdays and a little about their personal life (because you care and you enjoy getting to know people). If you are not either of those things, that ok tomorrow's a new day to meet someone new at the office. Finally being a utility player! Offer your time and skills to other teams throughout your company and see where it takes you. Everyone loves a teamplayer!

2.Find out who you are and do something that makes you happy (for a living)

Wow, I think that is what (most) if not all millennials and Gen-Z adults want to hear. For me, finding out who I was, happened by traveling half way around the world and spending a significant time in Hyderabad, India. I became more independent and confident in who I was. After living and studying abroad I knew I wanted to incorporate travel into my life for leisure and work. Despite being a student I have been able to do a significant amount of travel either for work, conferences and a huge blessing some vacations. I am grateful for all these chances to see the world, which has led me to wanting to pursue a career in the travel industry.

3. Jobs you may have in 5 years, don’t exist; stay open to new opportunities

I think some of the best advice I received as a young girl was to keep my mind open to new things, stay true to my values but be open to change. Now, as a 20-something, almost college grad I can say that this has been my mantra. I did what nearly every other student does: change their major. I never thought I would be the one do that, but there I was sitting in the Department Chair's office of my school's Business program days after I had returned back to America. I am thankful for the people who supported me in my decision to change the trajectory of my academic career.

Maybe you were/are stuck and not sure what you want to do. Pursue a job right now in the industry that interests you and who knows, maybe in a few years your "dream" job will have been created.

Always take the next steps to attain your dreams + goals!